It's what the Barrys do

Competitive swimming is in their blood.

SPRING HILL -- As if making a natural migration to the water, Matt and Sarah Barry began swimming competitively at age 6. That's just what the Barry kids do, like father, Mark, did before them and three younger brothers and sisters have done since.

Year-round commitments, club competitions and pre-dawn practice soon became a normal part of life and so, too, did winning.

This year, Matt, a junior, and Sarah, a freshman, won together at Springstead.

"Having (Matt) around makes me want to try harder," Sarah Barry said.

"It's motivating to me when I see her do well,' Matt Barry said. "I see her do well and I want to do well, not out of competitiveness but out of pride.

"It pushes you to have a sister you swam with all your life."

Both seemed highly motivated this season. Matt qualified for the state meet in the 100-yard breaststroke and 50 freestyle. He broke his own district record in winning the 100 breaststroke in 1:01.92. Sarah qualified for state in the 200 individual medley, 100 breaststroke and two relay teams.

"They prove that hard work pays off," said Eagles coach Brian Hengesbach. "The kids who qualify for states get to that level because they have a competitive drive.

"They're hard workers and they do what they're told. You can't ask for more than that."

Matt finished 19th in the 50 free at state. He entered the 100 breaststroke seeded seventh but finished eighth because of a disqualification. Sarah finished 23rd in the 200 IM and 19th in the 100 breast.

"They've excelled far beyond what I ever did," said Mark Barry, who swam at St. Pete Catholic when it was known as Bishop Barry. "But that's great."

Veterans of competitive swimming, the Barry children often help coach themselves.

"I've swum for tons of coaches," Matt said, "but no one really knows your strokes as well as your Dad or sister. Sometimes I'll ask (Sarah), 'How does this look?' "

It all starts from an early age in the Barry home. Mark, executive director of the Arc Nature Coast and a triathlete in training, started the procession, and Matt, Sarah and now Daniel, 12, Jacob, 9, and Leah, 7, have all followed.

Matt was exposed to competitive swimming by tagging along with his father, and mother, Laura, to his father's meets. Enrolled in swimming lessons before he was 2, Matt displayed an aptitude for the water and was encouraged to swim competitively by teachers.

"My parents never made any of us swim," Matt said. "I took swim classes when I was little and I didn't want to do the classes because I wanted to get on the swim team.

"Watching my dad swim as a little kid kind of got me into it. It was never, like, 'You're on the swim team.' There was no force. It was just something we got into as a family."

"It's just something we all want to do," Sarah said.

Laura Barry, who homeschools her children before they reach high school, appreciates her children participating in a confidence-building activity.

"I always wanted them to enjoy what they were doing," she said. "If they felt good about it, if they felt like they were gaining a little skill, it was encouraging for them to work so hard.

"I enjoy seeing them feel good about it."

As a freshman at Springstead, Matt won a district title in the 100 breaststroke but left the Eagles to swim strictly club last season. He returned this season to compete with Sarah.

"I wanted to make sure I got to swim with my sister," Matt said. "Plus, I really like to swim high school because it's a lot different than club. In club, it's a lot more work-oriented and competitive and stuff. High school kind of gives you that fun aspect of swimming, and that's something I definitely missed last year."

The daily grind of maintaining a high level can wear on teenagers. Both Matt and Sarah sometimes question their motives, Matt more so now, though he uses the lure of a college scholarship to drive him.

One element helps keep Sarah focused.

"When you do well, you feel really happy and you know why you did it," she said. "You put in all that work, and it's nice to feel good when you win."